Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and recording medium

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus includes an attribute specifying unit, a first identifying unit, and a creating unit. The attribute specifying unit is configured to specify an attribute of an image object that is a subject on which an additional object indicating an additional image object is superimposed. The first identifying unit is configured to identify all image objects having the attribute specified by the attribute specifying unit from among a plurality of image objects included in image data. The creating unit is configured to create, for each of the image objects identified by the first identifying unit, the additional object that has an identical shape to the image object and that is to be superimposed on the image object.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Rule 1.53(b) continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/254,003 filed Sep. 1, 2016 which claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-180404, filed Sep.14, 2015, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, aninformation processing method, and a recording medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, techniques of printing with a special ink, such asclear toner, are increasing. In printing with a special ink, an imageobject to be printed with the special ink (hereinafter, special colorobject) is placed over an existing image object of an original. Thus,printing with a special ink is enabled.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2015-95123, a technique of placing, right on an existing image objectthat is present at a position specified by a user, an image object thatis in the identical shape thereto is disclosed.

However, with the configuration disclosed in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2015-95123, when more than one image objectto be a subject of processing (an image object on which an additionalobject expressing an additional image object is placed) is included inimage data of an original, position specifying work is necessary to beperformed as many time as the number of subject image objects.Therefore, the work efficiency at the time of creating an additionalobject is lowered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, an informationprocessing apparatus includes an attribute specifying unit, a firstidentifying unit, and a creating unit. The attribute specifying unit isconfigured to specify an attribute of an image object that is a subjecton which an additional object indicating an additional image object issuperimposed. The first identifying unit is configured to identify allimage objects having the attribute specified by the attribute specifyingunit from among a plurality of image objects included in image data. Thecreating unit is configured to create, for each of the image objectsidentified by the first identifying unit, the additional object that hasan identical shape to the image object and that is to be superimposed onthe image object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OR THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a configuration of an image processingsystem;

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a hardware configuration of a hostdevice;

FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a functions of the host device;

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a user interface;

FIG. 5 illustrates one example of a file structure of original data;

FIG. 6 illustrates one example of a data format of setting information;

FIG. 7 illustrates one example of original data;

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of creating aspecial color object;

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating creation of a special colorobject based on an attribute and a page specified by an operation of auser;

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating one example of a procedure ofcreation of a special color object by the host device;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of aspecial-color-object creation controller;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of aspecial-color-object creation controller; and

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating comparison between a conventionaltechnique and a present embodiment.

The accompanying drawings are intended to depict exemplary embodimentsof the present invention and should not be interpreted to limit thescope thereof. Identical or similar reference numerals designateidentical or similar components throughout the various drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the presentinvention.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

In describing preferred embodiments illustrated In the drawings,specific terminology may be employed for the sake of clarity. However,the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to belimited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to beunderstood that each specific element includes all technical equivalentsthat have the same function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve asimilar result.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail belowwith reference to the drawings.

An object of an embodiment is to provide an image processing apparatus,an image processing method, and a recording medium that enable toimprove the work efficiency at the time of creating an additionalobject.

Embodiments of an image processing apparatus, an image processingmethod, and a program according to the present invention are explainedin detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a configuration of an informationprocessing system 1 of an embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, theinformation processing system 1 includes a host device 10 and a printerdevice 20. The host device 10 and the printer device 20 are connected toeach other through a wired or wireless communication line such that datacan be communicated with each other.

The host device 10 transmits image data to the printer device 20. Thehost device 10 can transmit image data constituted only of colored platedata to the printer device 20, or can transmit image data of coloredplate data and gloss-control plate data combined to the printer device20.

The colored plate data is image data that defines an image to be formedwith colored developer such as a color toner. Specifically, the coloredplate data is image data defining a color density value of RGB, CMYK, orthe like for each drawing region.

The gloss-control plate data is one example of image data (special-colorplate data) to be printed with a special ink, and is image data thatdefines a gloss effect to be added to paper. The gloss-control platedata is, specifically, image data that specifies a region to which agloss effect is given and a type of the gloss effect, to controladhesion of a clear toner according to the gloss effect, which is visualand tactile effects to be given to paper. The gloss-control plate dataexpresses a density value of a gloss region (drawing region) indicatinga region to which a clear toner is applied with a density value of, forexample, 0% to 10% (may be expressed by “0” to “255” or the like),similarly to the colored-plate image data of RGB, CMYK, or the like, andis set to a value according to a type of the gloss effect. In thisexample, for each type of gloss effects, a corresponding range of thedensity value is determined. The clear toner is a transparent toner (nocolor) including no color material. Transparent (no color) means thatthe transmittance thereof is, for example, 70% or higher.

Furthermore, the host device 10 has a function of positioning an imageobject to be printed with clear toner (hereinafter, “special colorobject” in some cases) over an existing image object of an original.Although the special color object is one example of an “additionalobject” indicating an image object (additional image object) to be newlypositioned over an existing image object in this example, a mode of theadditional image object is not limited to the special color object.

The printer device 20 performs printing based on image data receivedfrom the host device 10. In this example, at least respective toners ofCMYK and a clear toner are equipped in the printer device 20, and foreach toner, an image forming unit including a photoconductor, a chargingunit, a developing unit, and a photoconductor cleaner, and an exposureunit, and the like are equipped. The printer device 20 forms a tonerimage according to each toner on the photoconductor, by irradiatinglight beams from the exposure unit based on image data received from thehost device 10, and transfers the image onto a recording medium such asa recording paper. The transferred toner image is fixed on the recordingmedium with heat and pressure applied at a temperature within apredetermined range (normal temperature) by a not illustrated fixingunit. Thus, an image is formed on the recording medium. As a method forthe above printing, various known techniques can be applied.

A configuration of the host device 10 that is one example of theinformation processing apparatus is explained below. FIG. 2 illustratesa hardware configuration example of the host device 10. As illustratedin FIG. 10, the host device 10 includes a keyboard 100, a display 101, ahard disk drive (HDD) 102, a random access memory (RAM), a video randomaccess memory (VRAM) 104, a not illustrated read only memory (ROM), aninput/output interface (I/O) 105, and a central processing unit (CPU)106, and has a hardware configuration having a function serving as acomputer.

FIG. 3 illustrates one example of a function of the host device 10.Although a part relating to a function of creating a special colorobject as an additional object that indicates an additional image objectis mainly illustrated in FIG. 3 for convenience of explanation,functions of the host device 10 is not limited to the functionillustrated in FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the host device 10includes an operation controller 11, a data input unit 12, aspecial-color-object creation controller 13, a display controller 14,and a data storage unit 15.

The operation controller 11 creates event information according tovarious operations made using an input device (operation unit) such asthe keyboard 100, and sends the created event information to the specialcolor-object creation controller 13 described later. Informationincluded in the event information is information instructing creation ofa special color object, information indicating an attribute specified byan attribute specifying unit 111 described later, information indicatinga page specified by a page specifying unit 112 described later, settinginformation specified by a setting-information specifying unit 113described later, information indicating edit processing specified by anedit-processing specifying unit 114 described later, and the like. Theoperation controller 11 is specifically explained below.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the operation controller 11 includes theattribute specifying unit 111, the page specifying unit 112, thesetting-information specifying unit 113, and the edit-processingspecifying unit 114.

The attribute specifying unit 111 specifies an attribute of an imageobject on which a special color object to be newly added (one example ofan additional object) is to be superimposed according to an operation bya user. An attributed (type) of an image object includes “text”indicating an attribute of an object expressed by a character string,“graphics” indicating an attribute of an object expressed by vectordata, and “image” indicating an attribute of an object expressed bybinary data. The page specifying unit 112 specifies at least one page tobe a subject of special-color object creation out of image data of anoriginal (hereinafter, “original data”) according to an operation by auser. In this example, the original data is a set of pages, and is data,for example, in a portable document format PDF).

In the present embodiment, the operation controller 11 can acceptvarious kinds of operations through a user interface (UI) displayed bythe display controller 14 as illustrated in FIG. 4. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 4, original data before printing (before output) isdisplayed (preview display) on the UI. In the example of FIG. 4, abutton 141 to instruct creation of a special color object is displayedon the UI, and when depression of the button 141 is accepted, theoperation controller 11 displays an operation screen (for example, itmay be a sub-screen) to accept a specification of an attribute of animage object to a subject on which a special color object to be newlyadded is superimposed, and specification of a page to be a subject ofcreation of the special color object. According to an operation acceptedthrough the operation screen, the attribute specifying unit 111 canspecify an image object to be a subject, and the page specifying unit112 can specify a page to be a subject. Not limited thereto, forexample, it may be configured such that on the UI, a button to acceptspecification of an attribute of an image object to be a subject onwhich a special color object is superimposed, and a button to acceptspecification of a page to be a subject of creation of the special colorobject are displayed separately.

Explanation of FIG. 3 is continued. The setting-information specifyingunit 113 specifies setting information of a special color object to becreated according to an operation made by a user. In this example,information indicating a color space and information indicating adensity value are at least included. The setting-information specifyingunit 113 reads, when setting information of a special color object to becreated is stored in the data storage unit 15 (one example of “storageunit”), the setting information from the data storage unit 15, and onthe other hand, when the setting information of the color object to becreated is not stored in the data storage unit 15, the settinginformation is specified according to an instruction from the user. Amethod of storing setting information in the data storage unit 15 isdescribed later.

In this example, on the operation screen described above, buttons(hereinafter, “setting buttons”) that are in one-to-one correspondencewith multiple types of gloss effects, and to accept a selection ofsetting information to obtain a corresponding gloss effect aredisplayed. Not limited thereto, for example, it may be configured suchthat multiple setting buttons are displayed on the UI. When either oneof the setting buttons is pressed, the setting-information specifyingunit 113 checks whether setting information to obtain a gloss effectcorresponding to the pressed setting button is stored in the datastorage unit 15. When the setting information to obtain the gloss effectcorresponding to the pressed setting button is stored in the datastorage unit 15, the setting information is read from the data storageunit 15, and the read setting information is specified. On the otherhand, when the setting information to obtain the gloss effectcorresponding to the pressed setting button is not stored in the datastorage unit 15, a screen (setting-information input screen) to promptto input setting information to obtain the gloss effect corresponding tothe pressed setting button is displayed, and the setting informationaccepted through the setting-information input screen is specified.

In this example, after the operation to specify the attribute of theimage object to be a subject on which the special color object issuperimposed, the page to be a subject of creation of the special colorobject, and the setting information of the special color object to becreated, the user performs an operation to instruct to perform (start)creation of the special color object (for example, an operation ofpressing a button (for example, a button on the UI) to accept aninstruction to start creation of a special color object). Accepting thisoperation, the operation controller 11 instructs creation of the specialcolor object based on various kinds of specifications (specification ofan attribute, a page, setting information, and the like) to thespecial-color-object creation controller 13 described later. Forexample, the operation controller 11 sends event information thatincludes information instructing creation of the special color object,information indicating the attribute specified by the attributespecifying unit 111, information indicating the page specified by thepage specifying unit 112, and the setting information specified by thesetting-information specifying unit 113 to the special-color-objectcreation controller 13 described later.

The edit-processing specifying unit 114 specifies edit processing of aspecial color object according to an operation by a user. Editprocessing includes, for example, processing of deleting a special colorobject, processing of changing a density value of a special colorobject, and the like. For example, a button to specify edit processingis displayed on the UI for each type of edit processing of a specialcolor object, and the edit-processing specifying unit 114 can specifyedit processing corresponding to a pressed button.

In this example, after the operation to specify the edit processing, theuser performs an operation to instruct to perform the edit processing,(for example, an operation of pressing a button to accept an instructionto perform (start) the edit processing). The button to accept aninstruction to perform the edit processing may be displayed on the UIdescribed above, or may be displayed on a separate screen from the UI.It is not necessarily required to check an original data (preview)before printing when specifying the edit processing. When accepting thisoperation, the operation controller 11 instructs to perform thespecified edit processing to the special-color-object creationcontroller 13. For example, the operation controller 11 sends the eventinformation (for convenience of explanation, referred to as “edit eventinformation” in some cases) that includes the information indicating theedit processing specified by the edit-processing specifying unit 114,the information to instruct to perform the spied fled edit processing(command), and the like to the special-color-object creation controller13 described later.

The data input unit 12 reads original data (in this example, PDF data)specified according to an operation made using an input device(operation unit) such as the keyboard 100 from a memory (for example,the HDD 102 or the like), and stores the read original data in the datastorage unit 15.

The special-color-object creation controller 13 controls creation of aspecial object (additional object), or controls edit of a special colorobject based on the event information received from the operationcontroller 11. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, thespecial-color-object creation controller 13 includes a first identifyingunit 131, a creating unit 132, a second identifying unit 133, and anedit processing unit 134.

The first identifying unit 131 identifies all of image objects havingthe attribute specified by the attribute specifying unit 111 from amongimage objects that are included in the original data. More specifically,the first identifying unit 131 identifies all of imager objects havingthe attribute specified by the attribute specifying unit 111 from amongimage objects that are included in the page specified by the pagespecifying unit 112.

The creating unit 132 creates, for each of the identified image objects,a special color object that has the same shape as the image object andis to be superimposed on the image object. In this example, the creatingunit 132 adds and embeds, for each of created special color objects, taginformation (one example of “identification information”) to identify asan additional image object in the original data. FIG. 5 illustratesone-example of a file structure of original data. As described above,original data in the present embodiment is PDF data, and is constitutedof a header, a body, a cross-reference table, and a trailer. In thepresent embodiment, to achieve batch editing of additional objects, taginformation is added to a special color objects to be an additionalobject. This tag information can be saved in original data, and iseffective also when the original data is opened again (when re-read fromthe data storage unit 15). In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the taginformation includes a tag name indicating start of a subject specialcolor object, and an end tag indicating end of the subject special colorobject.

Explanation is continued referring back to FIG. 3. The creating unit 132creates a special color object for each of the special color objectsthat are identified by the first identifying unit 131, by using thesetting information specified by the setting-information specifying unit113. Moreover, the creating unit 132 stores the setting information(setting information common among special color objects created for eachof the image objects identified by the first identifying unit 131) thatis used to create the special color object in the data storage unit 15.For example, it may be configured to store a type of the gloss effectand the setting information, associating with each other, in the datastorage unit 15). Thus, when the setting button described above ispressed, it becomes easy to check whether the setting information toobtain the gloss effect corresponding to the pressed setting button ispresent in the data storage unit 15. Note that a data format of thesetting information is of any format, and for example, it may be a dataformat of an extensible markup language (XML) as illustrated in FIG. 6,but not limited thereto.

Furthermore, for example, when at least a part of an image object(referred to as “second image object” for convenience of explanation)having higher display priority than an image object (referred to as“first image object” for convenience of explanation) to be a subject onwhich a special color object to be newly added is superimposed isoverlapped on the first image object, the creating unit 132 can createthe special color object such that the special color object has higherdisplay priority than that of the first image object, and lower prioritythan that of the second image object.

Explanation of FIG. 3 is continued. The second identifying unit 133identifies, when receiving the edit event information from the operationcontroller 11, all of special color objects to which tag information(identification information) is added from among image objects includedin original data. The edit processing unit 134 subjects all of thespecial color objects identified by the second identifying unit 133 toedit processing specified by the edit-processing specifying unit 114(batch processing).

The display controller 14 controls to display various kinds of screensand images on a display unit (for example, the display 101) such as aliquid crystal display device, for example.

Note that the respective functions of the host device 10 may beimplemented by performing a program by the CPU 106, or at least a partof the functions of the host device 10 may be implemented by a specialhardware circuit. A program executed by the CPU 106 may be recorded in acomputer-readable recording medium such as a compact-disk read-onlymemory (CD-ROM), a compact disk recordable (CDR), a digital versatiledisk (DVD) to be provided as a computer program product.

FIG. 7 illustrates one example of original data (original data includinga special color object as an additional object) that is created by thehost device 10. The original data includes drawing information perobjects included in the same page. For example, the drawing informationincludes information indicating a position of a drawing region, a colorspace, and density. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, an object 1 isan image object expressed by binary data, and includes informationindicating a drawing position and a color spacer of RGB, as the drawinginformation. An object 2 is an image object that is expressed by text (acharacter string of clear toner in this example), and includesinformation indicating a drawing position, a color space of thecharacter string of clear toner, and density of each pixel as thedrawing information.

Objects 3 and 4 are special color objects, and only a portion of “star”included in the object 1 that is a scenic shot is a region for whichmirror finish is specified as a type of the gloss effect. As drawing information of these, information indicating a position at which astraight line is drawn, a line width, a color space of a gloss region towhich a gloss effect is given, and a density value of each pixel(density value corresponding to the mirror finish) is included. Anobject 5 is a special color object, and only a portion of “mountain”included in the object 1, which is a scenic shot, is a region for whicha matte finish is specified for a type of the gloss effect. As drawinginformation of the object 5, information indicating a position at whicha straight line is drawn, a line width, a color space of a gloss regionto which a gloss effect is given, and a density value of each pixel(density value corresponding to the matte finish) is included.

In the object 2, R-Clear is defined as a color plate, and in the objects3 to 5, R-effect is defined as a color plate. These are color platesthat cannot be expressed in CMYK at printing. Generally, when tonerother than CMYK (for example, red toner) is used to print, red isdefined as a color plate in an electronic image file. Also for cleartoner, the color Space of an output of a portion using clear tonersimilarly uses a special definition instead of CMYK in an electronicimage file.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of creating aspecial color object. A “object B” in FIG. 8 is an image object to be asubject on which a special color object to be newly added issuperimposed (image object right on which a special color object havingthe same shape is placed), and it is assumed that the display priorityof an object A is higher than the display priority of the object B. Whena user performs an operation to instruct creation of a special colorobject besides specifying an attribute of the object B (morespecifically, the setting information and the like are also specified),a special color object having the same shape as the object B is createdto be placed right over the object B. As described above, because thedisplay priority of this special color object is set to be higher thanthe display priority of the object B, the object A having higher displaypriority is not be hidden by the created special color object.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating creation of a special colorobject based on an attribute and a page specified by an operation of auser. As illustrated in FIG. 9(A), when “text” is specified by as anattributed of an image object to be subject of creation of a specialobject, a special color object having the attribute of “text” in thesame shape thereto is created right over the image object having theattribute of “text” out of image objects included in the original data.Moreover, as illustrated in FIG. 9(B), when “graphics” is specified asan attribute of an image object to be a subject, a special color objecthaving the attribute of “graphics” in the same shape thereto is createdright over an image object having the attributed of “graphics” out ofthe image objects included in the original data. Furthermore, asillustrated in FIG. 9(C), when “image” is specified as an attributed ofan image object to be a subject, a special color object having theattribute of “image” in the same shape thereto is created right over animage object having the attribute of “image” out of the image objectsincluded in the original data.

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating one example of a procedure ofcreation of a special color object (additional object) by the hostdevice 10. First, when an operation of specifying original data that Isstored in a memory (the HDD 102 or the like) through the input device(operation unit) such aa the keyboard 100 (step S1), the data input unit12 reads the original data stored in the memory, and stores the readoriginal data in the data storage unit 15 (step S2). Moreover, the datainput unit 12 converts the read original data into preview display datain a data format supported by the display controller 14, and causes thedisplay controller 14 to display the converted data (step S3).

Subsequently, when accepting an operation to specify a page to be asubject of creation of a special color object (step S6) through the UIdescribed above, the operation controller 11 (the attribute specifyingunit 111) specifies a page according to the accepted operation (stepS7).

Subsequently, when accepting an operation to specify setting informationthrough the UI described above (step S8), in this example, whenaccepting depression of either setting button, the operation controller11 (the setting-information specifying unit 113) requests settinginformation to obtain a gloss effect corresponding to the pressedsetting button (step S9), and receives a result to the request (StepS10). The operation controller 11 then specifies setting information(step S11). When the setting information to obtain the gloss effectcorresponding to the pressed setting button has already been stored inthe data storage unit 15, the setting information can be received as theresult to the request. Therefore, the operation controller 11 (thesetting-information specifying unit 113) specifies the received settinginformation. On the other hand, when the setting information to obtainthe gloss effect corresponding to the pressed setting button is notstored in the data storage unit 15, the operation controller 11 (thesetting-information specifying unit 113) displays thesetting-information input screen described above, and specifies settinginformation accepted through the setting-information input screen.

Subsequently, when accepting an operation to instruct performance(start) of creation of a special color object through the UI describedabove (step S12), the operation controller 11 creates event informationto send to the special-color-object creation controller 13 (step S13).As described above, this event information includes informationinstructing creation of a special color object, information indicatingthe attribute specified at step S5, information indicating the pagespecified at step S7, the setting information specified at step S11, andthe like.

The special-color-object creation controller 13 (the first identifyingunit 131) that has received the event information from the operationcontroller 11 requests the data storage unit 15 for original data, thepreview of which being displayed (step S14), and receives the originaldata (electronic file) as a result to the request (step S15).Subsequently, the special-color-object creation controller 13 (the firstidentifying unit 131) selects at least one page that has been specifiedat step S7 from among pages constituting the original data received atstep S15 (step S16). Subsequently, the special-color-object creationcontroller 13 (the first identifying unit 131) identifies all of imageobjects having the attribute specified at step S5 from among imageobjects included in at least one page selected at step S16 (step S17).Subsequently, the special-color-object creation controller 13 (thecreating unit 132) creates, for each of the image objects specified atstep S17, a special color object that has the same shape as the imageobject, and that is to be placed right over the image object, by usingthe setting information specified at step S11 (step S18).

Subsequently, the special-color-object creation controller 13 performs acontrol to cause the display controller 14 to display the original datato which the special color object is newly added (step s19), andperforms a control to cause the data storage unit 15 to store theoriginal data (step S20). Furthermore, the special-color-object creationcontroller 13 performs a control to cause the data storage unit 15 tostore the setting information that is used for creating the specialcolor object at step S18 (step S21).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of thespecial-color-object creation controller 13 when a special color objectis to be created. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the special-color-objectcreation controller 13 (the first identifying unit 131) acquiresoriginal data from the data storage unit (step S101). Subsequently, thespecial-color-object creation controller 13 (the first identifying unit131) selects at least one page (that is, one or more pages specified bythe page specifying unit 112) specified by the event information that isreceived from the operation controller 11, from among pages constitutingthe original data (step S102). Subsequently, the special-color-objectcreation controller 13 (the first identifying unit 131) identifies allof image objects having the attribute specified by the event information(that is, the attribute specified by the attribute specifying unit 111)out of the image objects included in at least one page selected at stepS102 (step S103). Subsequently, the special-color-object creationcontroller 13 creates, for each of the image objects identified at stepS103, a special color object that has the same shape as the imageobject, and that is to be placed right over the image object, by usingthe setting information specified by the event information (that is, thesetting information specified by the setting-information specifying unit113) (step S104). The color space and the density value of the specialcolor object are set according to the setting information.

The special-color-object creation controller 13 performs a control tocause the display controller 14 to display the original data to whichthe special color object is newly added (step S105). Moreover, thespecial-color-object creation controller 13 performs a control to causethe data storage unit 15 to store the original data to which the specialcolor object is newly added, and performs a control to cause the datastorage unit 15 to store the setting information of the special colorobject newly created (step S106).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operation example of thespecial-color-object creation controller 13 when receiving the editevent information described above from the operation controller 11.First, the special-color-object creation controller 13 (the secondidentifying unit 133) acquires original data from the data storage unit15 (step S111). Subsequently, the special-color-object creationcontroller 13 (the second identifying unit 133) identifies all ofspecial color objects to which tag information is added from among imageobjects included in the original data (step S112). Subsequently, thespecial-color-object creation controller 13 (the edit processing unit134) subjects all of the special color objects identified at step S112to edit processing specified by the edit event information (that is, theedit processing specified by the edit-processing specifying unit 114)simultaneously (step S113). The special-color-object creation controller13 then performs a control to cause the data storage unit 15 to storethe original data subjected to the edit processing (step S114).

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating comparison between a conventionaltechnique and the present embodiment. Also in a conventional technique,it has been possible to create a special color object for multiple imageobjects over multiple pages by a printer driver, or the like. However,in the conventional technique, it has been impossible to check a finalimage (check a preview) before printing, to edit (including deletion)viewing the preview or the like, to reuse a special color object newlyadded, and the like. On the other hand, the present embodiment enablesto check a preview, to edit viewing the preview (note that it is notnecessarily required to view the preview), and to reuse a special colorobject newly added.

As explained above, the host device 10 of the present embodimentspecifies an attribute of an image object to be a subject on which aspecial color object to be newly added is superimposed, according to anoperation by a user. The host device 10 then identifies all of imageobjects having the specified attributed from among image objectsincluded in original data, and creates, for each of the specified imageobjects, a special color object that has the same shape as the imageobject, and that is to be superimposed on the image object. According tothe present embodiment, by performing an operation to specify anattribute of an image object to be a subject on which a special colorobject is superimposed instead of performing an operation to separatelyselect all image objects to be a subject on which a special Color objectto be newly added is super imposed, a user can cause automatic creationof a special color object that has the same shape as the image objectand that is to be superimposed on (placed right over) the image object.Thus, the work efficiency at the time of creating a special color objectto be newly added can be improved.

Although a special color object in the above embodiment is one exampleof an “additional object” indicating an image object to be newlypositioned on an existing image object (additional image object), themode of the additional object is not limited to the special colorobject, but may be, for example, an image object to be printed withcolored toner.

According to an embodiment, the work efficiency at the time of creatingan additional object can be improved.

The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit thepresent invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, atleast one element of different illustrative and exemplary embodimentsherein may be combined with each other or substituted for each otherwithin the scope of this disclosure and appended claims. Further,features of components of the embodiments, such as the number, theposition, and the shape are not limited the embodiments and thus may bepreferably set. It is therefore to be understood that within the scopeof the appended claims, the disclosure of the present invention may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described herein.

The method steps, processes, or operations described herein are not tobe construed as necessarily requiring their performance in theparticular order discussed or illustrated, unless specificallyidentified as an order of performance or clearly identified through thecontext. It is also to be understood that additional or alternativesteps may be employed.

Further, any of the above-described apparatus, devices or units can beimplemented as a hardware apparatus, such as a special-purpose circuitor device, or as a hardware/software combination, such as a processorexecuting a software program.

Further, as described above, any one of the above-described and othermethods of the present invention may be embodied in the form of acomputer program stored in any kind of storage medium. Examples ofstorage mediums include, but are not limited to, flexible disk, harddisk, optical discs, magneto-optical discs, magnetic tapes, nonvolatilememory, semiconductor memory, read-only-memory (ROM), etc.

Alternatively, any one of the above-described and other methods of thepresent invention may be implemented by an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP) or a fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA), prepared by interconnecting anappropriate network of conventional component circuits or by acombination thereof with one or more conventional general purposemicroprocessors or signal processors programmed accordingly.

Each of the functions of the described embodiments may be implemented byone or more processing circuits or circuitry. Processing circuitryincludes a programmed processor, as a processor includes circuitry. Aprocessing circuit also includes devices such as an application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) and conventional circuit componentsarranged to perform the recited functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing method performed by aninformation processing apparatus having an input device, the methodcomprising the steps of: (a) accepting input of an attribute of at leastone image object amongst one or more image objects in original imagedata, the attribute being designated by the input device; (b)identifying said at least one image object having the specifiedattribute accepted in the step (a), amongst the image objects in theoriginal image data; (c) creating, for each identified image objectamongst said at least one image object having the specified attributeamongst the image objects in the original image data, an additionalobject that is to be superimposed on the corresponding image objectidentified in the step (b) as having the specified attribute; and (c1)generating enhanced image data by adding the additional object, createdin the step (c) and to be superimposed on the corresponding imageobject, to the original image data, each additional object beingindividually tagged in the enhanced image data with a tag name toindicate a start of the additional object in the enhanced image data andwith a tag end to indicate end of the additional object in the enhancedimage data, and storing the enhanced image data in a storage device. 2.The information processing method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: superimposing the corresponding additional object on theidentified image object having the specified attribute.
 3. Theinformation processing method according to claim 1, wherein thespecified attribute is text, graphics or image.
 4. The informationprocessing method according to claim 1, wherein the image data is a setof plural pages, and the method performed by the information processingapparatus further comprises: accepting designation, by the input device,of at least one page amongst the set of plural pages, the image objectidentified in the step (b) being an image object in the designated page,and the additional object created in the step (c) being superimposed onsaid image object in the designated page.
 5. The information processingmethod according to claim 1, further comprising: storing, in a storagedevice, setting information that is common among the additional objectscreated in the step (c) for the respective identified image objectsidentified in the step (b).
 6. The information processing methodaccording to claim 5, wherein the setting information includes at least(i) information indicating a color space and (ii) information indicatinga density value.
 7. The information processing method according to claim1, further comprising: (d) generating setting information in response touser operation, and associating the setting information with one or moretag names tagging respective additional objects in the enhanced imagedata generated in the step (c1); and (d1) storing the settinginformation in association with said one or more tag names.
 8. Theinformation processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:specifying edit processing of one or more additional objects created inthe step (c); identifying all of the additional objects tagged in theenhanced image data generated in the step (c1); and performing thespecified edit processing on all of the tagged additional objects, inresponse to a batch editing instruction.
 9. A non-transitory recordingmedium storing an executable program, an information processingapparatus executing the program to perform a method comprising the stepsof: (a) accepting input of an attribute of at least one image objectamongst one or more image objects in original image data, the attributebeing designated by the input device; (b) identifying said at least oneimage object having the specified attribute accepted in the step (a),amongst the image objects in the original image data; (c) creating, foreach identified image object amongst said at least one image objecthaving the specified attribute amongst the image objects in the originalimage data, an additional object that is to be superimposed on thecorresponding image object identified in the step (b) as having thespecified attribute; and (c1) generating enhanced image data by addingthe additional object, created in the step (c) and to be superimposed onthe corresponding image object, to the original image data, eachadditional object being individually tagged in the enhanced image datawith a tag name to indicate a start of the additional object in theenhanced image data and with a tag end to indicate end of the additionalobject in the enhanced image data, and storing the enhanced image datain a storage device.
 10. The non-transitory recording medium accordingto claim 9, wherein the method performed by the information processingapparatus executing the program stored in the non-transitory recordingmedium further comprises: (d) generating setting information in responseto user operation, and associating the setting information with one ormore tag names tagging respective additional objects in the enhancedimage data generated in the step (c1); and (d1) storing the settinginformation in association with said one or more tag names.
 11. Thenon-transitory recording medium according to claim 9, wherein the methodperformed by the information processing apparatus executing the programstored in the non-transitory recording medium further comprises:specifying edit processing of one or more additional objects created inthe step (c); identifying all of the additional objects tagged in theenhanced image data generated in the step (c1); and performing thespecified edit processing on all of the tagged additional objects, inresponse to a batch editing instruction.
 12. An information processingapparatus comprising an input device and processing circuitry configuredto perform a method comprising the steps of: (a) accepting input of anattribute of at least one image object amongst one or more image objectsin original image data, the attribute being designated by the inputdevice; (b) identifying said at least one image object having thespecified attribute accepted in the step (a), amongst the image objectsin the original image data; (c) creating, for each identified imageobject amongst said at least one image object having the specifiedattribute amongst the image objects in the original image data, anadditional object that is to be superimposed on the corresponding imageobject identified in the step (b) as having the specified attribute; and(c1) generating enhanced image data by adding the additional object,created in the step (c) and to be superimposed on the correspondingimage object, to the original image data, each additional object beingindividually tagged in the enhanced image data with a tag name toindicate a start of the additional object in the enhanced image data andwith a tag end to indicate end of the additional object in the enhancedimage data, and storing the enhanced image data in a storage device. 13.The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein themethod performed by the processing circuitry further comprises: (d)generating setting information in response to user operation, andassociating the setting information with one or more tag names taggingrespective additional objects in the enhanced image data generated inthe step (c1); and (d1) storing the setting information in associationwith said one or more tag names.
 14. The information processingapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the method performed by theprocessing circuitry further comprises: specifying edit processing ofone or more additional objects created in the step (c); identifying allof the additional objects tagged in the enhanced image data generated inthe step (c1); and performing the specified edit processing on all ofthe tagged additional objects, in response to a batch editinginstruction.